December 19, 2011

Rumors have been swirling online for a week or so and now Chanel has confirmed that Karl Lagerfeld has chosen Alice Dellal to be the face of the Boy Chanel handbag collection. The designer had a crush on this unique, charismatic young lady, who is both a model and musician, during a photo shoot several months ago. Though at first I thought the collaboration curious, I think it makes sense. Alice Dellal represents the perfect incarnation of all that is unique about the Boy Chanel handbag collection which strives far from conformist notions of femininity.

Ultra-modern, refined and mysterious, Alice Della is the latest in the line of CHANEL muses, each boasting their own inimitable allure – that je ne sais quoi that Mademoiselle herself perfected.

The advertising campaign shot by Karl Lagerfeld will be revealed in March 2012. I can’t wait to see this. From what I can see from the preview I already love what Alice Dellal is wearing and she looks more feminine than she normally does.

What happens when you combine neon with Chanel? You get the Spring Summer 2012 collection. These pieces were not on the runway but a Spanish blogger was invited to a press preview in Madrid and posted some great pics of pieces from the 2102 Chanel spring summer collection.

I love the sneakers – especially the high tops – and did you see the tennis balls? So cute, but too cute to actually play with. We also get glimpses of new bags, shoes and neon jackets. It all looks very summery and fun – can’t wait to see it in stores!

From the break of dawn to the descent of twilight, skies reveal an enchanting array of hues with the arrival of Spring. Inspired by this brilliant seasonal change, Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Makeup, infused glowing, sunlit colour into the Spring 2012 Makeup Collection, HARMONIE DE PRINTEMPS. Subtle gradations of rose, coral and peach sculpt the face, giving it a soft radiance, while rich garnets and vivid pinks dress the lips.
BLUSH HORIZON DE CHANEL GLOWING BLUSH HARMONY
In one elegant compact, five pink and peach tones mimic the luminous hues of sunset. This unique powder blush lends itself to multiple effects: blended together, the harmony is ideal for sculpting and accentuating the natural contours of the face. Using just the pink shades creates a fresh, youthful flush, while on their own, the peach tones produce a warm, sun-bronzed glow. $58.00 Limited Edition

December 11, 2011

One of the original boutique hotels, Blakes Hotel & Restaurant is beloved by celebrities including Gwenyth Paltrow. Adjoining the famed restaurant is the Chinese Room – a lounge that is the “epitome of decadence and comfort.” Fancy people like musicians, film stars and designers are known to flock there – and why not? The Chinese Room is dedicated to Coco Chanel and Marlene Dietrich, of course. When I go back to London one day, I’d love to have a cocktail there.

December 9, 2011

A few days ago I mentioned that there was a silver toy train chugging away around the main table at the Chanel Métiers d’Art Paris-Bombay 2011/12 show. Today, Chanel released a video taken from the train – it gives a unique perspective of the show and it gives you the impression of riding on the train. Get ready for your ride on the Chanel Paris-Bombay express…

December 8, 2011

I’ve said it before, I’ve said it again – I’m an accessories girl. I like apparel, but I LOVE accessories. To me, apparel is just something you wear under accessories. The Chanel Métiers D’Art Pre-Fall 2012 Paris-Bombay Accessories were so intricate that they could have had a show unto themselves – oppulent would be an understatement. But for all of their embellishment, Karl Lagerfeld managed to make it look all in good taste.

All of the models wore tikka – jewelry hanging on to the forehead that you attach to your hair – the Chanel version differed on some models by the addition of many chains that hung and draped over the side of the face. Bracelets took on a life of their own with some covering the hand and some with finger attachments. Necklaces ran the gamut from chokers to full bib necklaces to running across the body, across the shoulder and even full body jewelry that looked like a mesh overlay worn over clothing. Fingerless gloves and boots have patterns on them that were reminiscent of mehendi henna patterns normally seen on the hands and feet of brides.

New iterations of the Boy bag had all or one of the following: quilting on the front flap, exotic skins, Double-C clasp, and jewel encrusted thick straps. Some bags were in exotic skins while others looked like they were made of metal, some were in metallic leather while others were heavily jewel encrusted. Chanel showed these little pyramid-esque evening purses that looked like they were made to house treasure. My favorite bag was a snake skin clutch with diamond encrusted clasp. Sandals mimicked the bracelets and looked like foot jewelry while some boots looked like they were extensions of the pants. Gold booties looked inspired by men’s footwear but were every bit feminine. I can’t wait for this collection to be in stores so I can see all of the details in person!

Peter Philips created another gorgeous makeup collection to compliment Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel Métiers D’Art Paris-Bombay 2012 presentation. The ubiquitous kohl-rimmed eyes so popular in the South East was reinterpreted for the runway and were the main focus on the face. Lips and cheeks were kept minimal and natural and all of the emphasis was on the very dark eyes.

Several limited edition products were created for the “Bombay Express” collection including POUDRE COMPACTE in Route des Indes de CHANEL, ILLUSION D’OMBRE Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow in Nirvana, JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Brume d’Or, ROUGE COCO SHINE Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Empreinte and LE VERNIS Nail Colour in Diwali. I am most excited about Illusion d’Ombre in Nirvana and Le Vernis in Diwali. Based on the glimpses we saw on the runway, I’m guessing that Nirvana will be black – though I’m wondering how different it will be to Mirifique. Diwali or the “festival of lights” is one of the most joyous celebrations in India. Based on the runway images Le Vernis Diwali looks goldish-luminiscent and based on the name I can imagine the color was inspired by lights. The Exclusive Creation Collection Chanel ‘Bombay Express’ will be available in select Chanel makeup counters in June 2012.

Here are the details from Chanel on the products used to create the look:

Peter Philips, Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup used the following CHANEL products to create the runway beauty looks: